“Even for us there will be a softening in the wind.” She said, wisely, like a prayer.

And my spirit took comfort. She, I believe, has found a softening in the wind, through death, though my spirit dwells with her still. But at last, after a year of praying, meditating, howling, roiling, and raging at my destiny, I have three job offers on the table. As the strain drains from my body, I find a softened, tired, grateful shadow, hands raised in a boxing position, still battering at windmills.

God came through at precisely the moment when I was drained, wondering how and if I could reinvent myself, fashion my being into something and someone that was marketable in this changing labor landscape. I’ve sold 25k worth of jewelry and had about two months of liquidity left before hammering my meager stock portfolio. A long over due bank loan against my apartment was the last resort and that’s scheduled to come through, though they are rechecking my loan since I am in Zone A – high risk area – post hurricane Sandy.

I need time to process the offers and to at last choose the one that is best for me. I will take time to find gratitude in a battle wearied spirit. I will thank the friends who have stood as encouraging banners against the winds of my despair. At the violet hour of my discontent, there is relief. I can rest without thinking that I may need to move, without dreading the next day. Now I have to reapply myself to work. This vast expanse of time has also given me some space to heal and pursue other hobbies, jewelry-making, boxing, writing….late nights and early afternoon mornings. http://tinyurl.com/a7m5ras

I no longer have an excuse to indulge in self sabotaging behaviors like refusing to eat because I can’t afford decent restaurants now; gnawing my cuticles thinking that is nourishment and protein; dating men who don’t interest me because I’ve lost interest in my tired story; driving through the hurricane soaked streets of New York with no gas left in the tank; waiting on gas lines during a blizzard; obsessively watching Rock of Ages because I find Tom Cruise unbelievable sexy in the role; waiting until dawn before trying to sleep.

My cats cuddle next to me in winter’s awakening dawn, fur-thickened Persian bodies comforting me and telling me that they knew all would be well. I feel their silky purring reassurances and close my eyes – tonight there will be rest.

When you’ve walked the last mile on your road and can no longer see a clear path before you, believe in yourself and a higher power who holds you steady against the bruising winds. A friend recently wrote that I should “keep knocking on those doors” and that “kindness rebounds.”